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Governments and Port Metro Vancouver Take Action to End Trucking Dispute

VANCOUVER, March 13, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of
Transport, the Honourable Todd Stone British Columbia Minister of
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Robin Silvester, President &
Chief Executive Officer, Port Metro Vancouver, today announced concrete
action to end the trucking dispute in Port Metro Vancouver. A 14-point
action plan has been collectively agreed upon to return the port to
normal operations. This plan will help ensure truck drivers are paid
fair compensation. It also includes rapid implementation of pilot
measures to help reduce wait times at container terminals and the
creation of an industry oversight committee.

The measures were developed after taking into account the concerns
voiced by container truck owner/operators and unionized drivers and
inputs received from all stakeholders, including recommendations made
by Federally appointed advisor Vince Ready. The efficient movement of
marine containers through Port Metro Vancouver is critical to Canada's
Asia Pacific Gateway and the national economy. The work stoppage of the
last two weeks has resulted in severe impacts on the national economy,
and with the immediate implementation of the 14-point action plan we
expect an immediate and full return to work by truck drivers.

As part of the plan, and to address industry instability and concerns
about undercutting agreed rates, Port Metro Vancouver will restructure
its Truck Licensing System. This comes after months of consultation
with industry, trucking companies and federal and provincial
governments, and has benefited from the work of Vince Ready and his
discussions with truck operators. Port Metro Vancouver will consult
with trucking industry stakeholders, with the intent to implement
reforms by June 15, 2014.

Port Metro Vancouver is Canada's largest port. In 2013, the port handled
a record 135 million tonnes of cargo, an overall increase of 9 percent
over 2012.

Approximately 2,000 Port Metro Vancouver licensed trucks service the
port moving containers throughout the Lower Mainland.

The local trucking industry moves approximately 1.3 million TEUs* per
year in Port Metro Vancouver. Based on 2011 economic impact study
figures, the value of those goods would be worth approximately $46
billion or roughly $885 million per week.

Quotes

"I have asked Port Metro Vancouver to implement the agreed upon action
plan. It is time to get the port working once again and we expect the
trucking industry to do their part and immediately return to work."

The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport

"The Port of Metro Vancouver - the largest in Canada - is critical to
the economy of B.C. and Canada providing good paying jobs. I am
confident that the joint action plan that has been put in place today
will allow the truckers to return to work and the port to return to
normal operations immediately."

British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd
Stone

"We are fully behind these changes and intend to put them in place
quickly, in consultation with stakeholders in the trucking community,"
said Robin Silvester, President and CEO, Port Metro Vancouver. "Our
goal is to rapidly improve the truck licensing system to more
effectively manage the trucking services marketplace, improve
efficiencies and ensure there is effective compliance monitoring in
place with respect to rates."